Public Information & News Manager National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Virginia, United States
In late 2018, the then-new Visitor Center Manager at Whipple Observatory noticed two big issues: (1) the static exhibits and learning experiences had remained relatively untouched since 1990, and (2) despite being at the apex of multiple underserved rural and Hispanic communities, the Observatory had little to no relationship with them. And so a plan was hatched to reinvent the Observatory's relationship with its surrounding communities, from creating public and school programming to developing and adopting dual-language co-creation, and transforming the Visitor Center into a hands-on Science Center, focused on expanding minds and learning opportunities through direct engagement with scientific concepts in an informal learning environment. This presentation will explore the challenges faced in adopting an ambitious overhaul to informal astronomy education programs, discuss how to overcome unforeseen circumstances (like the global pandemic), celebrate the successes and progress thus far, and give a sneak peek of Whipple Observatory's transformation from informational Visitor Center to fully-engaged Science Center. More importantly, this session will offer actionable tips for creating or transforming programming and efforts to leverage partnerships and shared resources, as well as to meet the needs of the diverse communities around us all.